The first federal constitution in Nigeria was the Macpherson Constitution. It was introduced in 1951 during the colonial period and provided for the establishment of a federal system of government in Nigeria. The constitution was named after the then Governor-General, Sir Alan Burns Macpherson. It granted regional autonomy to the three regions in the country - Northern, Western, and Eastern regions - and allowed for a central government to manage issues of common interest. The Macpherson Constitution was replaced by the Lyttleton Constitution in 1954.